I start off with a recap of last year’s Ganapati festival. Supremely thrilled, I sent my mom a picture of the modaks I was offering to the Lord and asked her if I had made them. Pat came the reply that she knew that they were store-bought. She said that I, being totally clueless about making that sweet, could not have mastered the technique overnight. She had made a few herself for the puja but was initially hesitant to share the photo with me, saying that they did not look perfect.
Two truths emerged from this incident. First, it is not easy to lie before mothers because they know their children too well. Second, striving for perfection can be sought at any age, as seen by my mother who was conscious of the shape and appearance of the modaks.
For those uninitiated to this speciality, modaks are sweets with a filling of freshly grated coconut and jaggery. The soft shell that forms the outer layer is made of rice or wheat flour. Modaks are either fried or steamed. Derived from the Sanskrit word “moda” which means happiness or bliss, a modak symbolizes spiritual knowledge and is believed to be the favorite sweet of Lord Ganesh.
This year’s Ganapati celebrations just got over with the fun, food, and festivities. The younger man, who unfortunately has gotten Mommy’s genes of having a sweet tooth, is still relishing the laddoos and modaks that are left over.
I told him that along with consuming the calories, he should also absorb some knowledge about modaks. Like a pro well versed in religious studies, I gave him a crash course with a couple of stories, courtesy the knowledge that I have gathered over the years.
The special food for a hungry child
As a child, Lord Ganesh had visited Anusuya, the wife of sage Atri, with Shiva and Parvati. She insisted on serving him before his parents. Ganesh’s hunger was not satisfied even though he ate a wide variety of food items. It was only after he was served a sweet that he burped loudly to express that he was finally full. This was followed by Lord Shiva burping twenty-one times although he had not eaten yet. A curious Parvati asked what sweet it was that fulfilled her son’s hunger. On learning that it was the modak, she expressed her desire that devotees serve 21 modaks to her son.
A Mother’s Test
Another story comes from the Padma Puranas. The Devas (Demigods) once visited Lord Shiva and Parvati and gave them a divine modak. They were told that anybody who ate the modak would become knowledgeable in all scriptures, science, art, and writing. Ganesh and Kartikeya refused to share the sweet, so Parvati put them to a test. Whoever would be the first to circle the universe three times would get the modak. While Kartikeya set off on this tiring journey, Ganesh smartly circled around his parents to symbolize that they meant the entire universe to him. Pleased by his devotion, Parvati gave him the modak. Thereafter, it became his favorite sweet.
The richness and sweetness
I finished my narration as my boy listened to the anecdotes with a smile. Being introduced to such stories as a child, he enjoyed them.
Our mythology is rich with stories about our gods, sometimes with multiple versions. Over time, they have been passed from one generation to the next. For those questioning and challenging their authenticity, the doors are always open for discussion. But we cannot ignore the fact that these stories are fascinating and relatable to our lives. Also, the content provides a sense of direction in understanding what is good and bad and establishes a moral high ground.
Coming back to this staple during Ganesh Chaturthi, it makes me reflect upon something amusing. No festival is ever complete minus the wide array of food that is a highlight of the event. We the human beings on this planet do a terrific job of researching the favorite food, fruit, or sweets that the gods love. This has been continuing for centuries. We make our offerings, seek the blessings of the divine, and conclude not just with a contented mind and soul but also with an experience that immensely satisfies our taste buds!
rashmi writes 
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